I grabbed the handle, and I opened it. “Oh, you’re home. Oh my, hi Sol.” My sister, Maria, greeted us.

 

This was the first time I was able to bring him home. Normally, dogs would immediately have to come here after our proper introductions, but considering Sol’s past, the captain wanted to make sure he was conditioned properly.

 

First couple of months, getting him that bilingual class. Now, he’s able to listen to both commands. After that, we made sure he physically contacted the rest of my family before I could officially bring him home. First, it was my parents. They were scared at first, but as if it were my first child, they opened up to him quickly with tons of hugs and pets. He did too. Soon came my siblings, my 2 older sisters, who feared him, but he showed them he was loving, lying down, and letting himself get belly rubs.

 

Then came my 2 younger ones, my other sister, and my brother. They had cats, so it was much harder for them to convince them to come and greet Sol. But just like before, Sol proved to them he can be trusted, and not just around them, but the cats, too. Of course, the cats would hiss at him for sniffing their butts, but other than that, he was calm and playful with the bunch. They tolerated him, that’s for sure.

 

But this was the next step, after almost half a year, he was able to finally come home with me. All those nights and days paid off, and my captain couldn’t be happier that our bond was formed.

 

“Sol, say hi.” I let the leash go, letting Sol happily jump into her greeting arms.

 

“Oh, it’s so good to finally have you home,” she greeted right back with lots of pets on his back and smooches on his face. She looked back at me as I closed the door behind me. “That stuff you asked me to get for you; it’s over there by the couch.”

 

I stumbled on my way to the couch as I took my work shoes off and left them in the front with everyone else's. I saw the stuff. A bunch of toys, more treats, and underneath all the bags was the dog bed. His bed to call his own. I moved the stuff from the couch to the coffee table in front of me.

 

Looked like Sol was done greeting my sister as he approached me by the couch. He placed his paw right on my lap, then it started – the whimpering. He looked at me, almost begging, but he waited. I thought about what my mom said, about not letting him on the couch. But she’s not here, so what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. I glanced back at him, ears perked up as he knew. “Come.” And just with that command, he jumped up to the couch next to me.

 

I can already hear my sister from her room. “Mom’s gonna know.” She yelled out.

 

“No, she won’t,” I yelled back. Sol and I were just sitting down on the couch after a long day and a drive back from O’Hare. He placed his head on my lap, and I slid my fingers across his fur. “This is your home now, buddy.”

 

“Alex.” My sister called me.

 

“Alex.” I was taken back to the front door, the front of the mansion. Then I looked inside, and it was the hellhound who called out to me, just his ruby eyes sticking out from the dark. “Are you okay?”

 

“Yeah, no, I’m okay.” It took me a second to find my words.

 

“You did it again,” the hellhound sat in front of me, observing me. “Something troubles you.”

 

“I… I said I’m fine. Just a thought occurred to me, that’s all.” I lied again.

 

I can see what he’s doing, scanning my facial expression. Those ruby eyes piercing me, the lie. “Hmm, let us continue then.” I guess my façade was just a bit stronger.

 

We continued inside as the raindrops could be heard. There was no light, nothing worked inside as I flipped the light switch, and nothing happened. Then I used my head – I concentrated my mana into my hand, forming a fireball. Well, in this case, it’ll serve as my torch.

 

“I see,” the hellhound saw my action, following suit. He concentrated, creating a floating fireball around himself. Cool, now we can see the dusted floors and the cobwebs that hang around every corner of the ceiling.

 

We made our way around the house: First, the first floor. It included various rooms. From the living room to the kitchen, the bathroom to storage rooms. We walked everywhere we found.

 

“So, who was your previous master?” I said lowly, breaking the silence we had a moment ago.

 

The hellhound didn’t say anything initially. The faint sounds of water leaking into the house can be heard; our footsteps echo in the long halls. “He was… not a good person.” That’s why he took so long; it must’ve been difficult thinking of the right words.

 

“I… I see.”

 

We reached the stairs. I took one step up, and it creaked hard; it was definitely unstable. “Careful as we go up,” I said aloud.

 

It didn’t take long to figure out which steps were bad. I say that as I’m wiping shards of wood out of my pants at the top of the stairs. The hellhound licked its paws in the meantime.

 

We continued around. The halls upstairs had a bunch of paintings, which I can only assume were the royal family before the place became abandoned. Only dust and dirt remained.

 

“I said my old master was not a good person…” The hellhound spoke again.

 

“You don’t have to explain to me,” I burned some cobwebs in front of us. “I understand if it’s too hard to speak–”

 

“No,” he stopped me mid-sentence. “I need to tell you. Perhaps telling you who exactly I was will give you the strength to tell me yours.”

 

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say.

 

Before I could even come up with something, we stumbled upon the master bedroom. I tried to turn the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. I took the keys out and found the one labeled Master Bedroom. Just like that, it opened for us to enter.

 

This room was different; everything was out of place, ransacked, dare I say. Someone was trying to find something, and I noticed instantly – the dust hadn’t settled on the stuff thrown. It was fresh. “Someone has been here before,” I knelt right in the middle of it, observing the furniture that was wrecked all around, the master bed flipped, the drawers left open, even the broken mirror felt the person's wrath. The person was desperate. “And it’s fresh.”

 

“I sense no one in the vicinity,” the hellhound closed its eyes, sensing anything out of the ordinary. “No use.”

 

“Well, the door was closed,” I thought back to that old man, Ezekiel. Perhaps he came back for something? No, he looked in no shape to do anything like this rampage. I mentally scratched him off for now. “Whoever did this is someone who also has access to this place. Perhaps when we’re done here, I can go back to that old man and ask.”

 

I looked back at the hellhound. He was sniffing around, putting his nose to work. “Find anything, boy?”

 

I looked back at Sol. He was sniffing around, putting his nose to work as we’ve trained. “Find anything, boy?”

 

We were needed; a kidnapping had happened at Marquette Park. The other cops had made a perimeter around the area, securing the area with lots of people watching.

 

I let my partner sniff around. It was the playground area. I walked with him, making sure he was finding what he needed. And that’s where he found it – in a trash can, a pair of clothing that was thrown in there. A red sweater that belonged to the kidnapped. “Good boy.”

 

As soon as I gave the detective on the case the evidence, Sol’s nose continued to work. He did it, he sniffed out a trail. I let the leash go, letting him find what he’s looking for as a couple of other cops and I followed behind.

 

He went into the traffic that led down Kedzie, running it down like he owned the street. It wasn’t before he made it to a car, a 2012 Dodge Durango, pitch black, where he stopped in front of it and began to bark.

 

I pulled out my weapon. “Chicago Police, get your hands off the steering wheel!” I yelled out to him as he honked the car continuously.

 

Then he stopped. “Roll your window down and show me your hands.” I continued to yell my commands. He did what he was told, arms flapping around.

 

He proceeded to do exactly as I was telling him, opening the door from the outside, stepping out, and placing his hands on the car. It wasn’t long before the rest of the crew came and did their search on his vehicle.

 

It was a long process, but we then heard the good news: she was found unharmed, too. Thank God.

 

Sol and I celebrated a good job well done. The detective came to talk to us. “That’s a good nose on that dog, what’s your name?”

 

I smiled as I gave Sol his treat. “I’m Alex, and this here is my partner, Sol.”

 

“Sol, eh? That’s a mighty fine name on him.” The detective complimented. “How long have you 2 been working together?”

 

“Tomorrow, we’ll make 3 years,” I told him.

 

“You ever thought about being a detective? I can always put in a good word for good, honest cops like yourselves.” The detective continued.

 

A detective, eh? I thought about how cool I’d look in a suit, but then I looked back at Sol, and how he was chasing his tail around in a circle. Endless nights, endless days, to get to where he was now in life? I wouldn’t trade that in the world, at least not yet. “While I do appreciate the opportunity, I’m going to pass for now. I’ll probably consider it once I retire Sol. Let him live the life he deserves out of duty.”

 

The detective tipped his hat. “I can see that, well, here,” he gave me his card. “Should you ever change your mind, the offer to rank up is yours.”

 

“Thank you.” I took his card and threw it in my pocket.

 

Suddenly, it started raining on us, a drizzle, nothing too bad yet. “Oh damn, I thought I’d be able to beat the rain. Well, see you, Alex, Sol.” The detective scurried away.

 

I looked up at the sky, then back at my dog. I continued to smile like an idiot, feeling the accomplishment we both got for good work today.

 

I closed my eyes for a quick second, and then thunder struck nearby.

 

The thunder struck, and I was still here, looking at the hellhound. “The storm is brewing; whatever is on your mind is still affecting the environment around us.”

 

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to. Not now at the very least.

 

“Do you regret making a contract with me?” The hellhound’s ears were low; a small whimper came out of him. It was the same as back then. The way Sol knew something bothered me, the same mannerism. The only difference, the hellhound can actually speak to me.

 

I stayed silent. In the middle of the room, of what little was left. Kind of like me. Poetic. Pathetic. ‘… It’s not that I don’t regret the contract… your presence… It’s just familiar to a time I was happy…”

 

He looked at me. He wasn’t judging me. He wasn’t angry at me. He was listening to me. Sitting down in front of me. Of someone I used to know. I can’t find my words. “…”

 

“You told me earlier that I don’t have to explain, that you would understand. I would like to return that gesture.” He told me, repeating the words I said before we came into the room. “Speak when you’re ready, Alex. In the meantime, I found a scent we can follow. I can continue where I left off, and then, if you have the will to say the same, I’ll listen.”

 

“… Thank you…” I was pathetic, that’s all I can muster to say.

 

I began to follow him, leading us back to the stairs we had once come from. “3 Centuries ago, I had a master. Cruel, vile, pure evil. He was of Demon-kin.”

 

He began to explain, as I followed. “He made me do things, questionable things. I once had to destroy a whole village, all while under his command. They didn’t deserve it. He only made me do it for the shits and giggles, as he would say.”

 

We made our way to the cellar, all the way out in the back of the mansion. Just like before, we were greeted with cobwebs and dust in the air. “The destruction I’ve laid in those years was devastating. Countless lives were sacrificed because I did what I was told, no questions asked. I was a good soldier who just listened.”

 

Towards the back of the cellar, we found a tomb of a sort. And it seemed recent, too. An orb was on the mouth of what seemed to be a dragon lever. That must be what they were looking for back in the master bedroom; it was clean, unlike the rest of the room. It seemed the only direction it led was down, and that’s what we did.

 

“It got to the point where I couldn’t handle it anymore, not like my brethren,” he continued to his story while we ventured in. “I spoke out, and he tossed me away, exiled me from the lands I grew up in.” I can feel all his emotions, his sadness in his tone, the whimpering echoing in the chambers. Was this all because of the contract? Is that how he noticed my emotions?

 

We continued down, and we made it to a room filled with tombs and graves. All ransacked in the same way as the bedroom. “For years, I traveled around. For years, I had people spit on me, curse me, and berate me. And I just let it happen. For my sin was greater than anyone could ever imagine.”

 

He turned to look at me. “Then I found this place. Took refuge in the shadows while it was abandoned. No one dared come in, besides that old man.”

 

“Ezekial, right? I guess I wasn’t the only one who didn’t fear you.” I lightly chuckled.

 

“Oh, I scared him outright, but as I said, I stayed mostly in the shadows, avoiding those around me,” he started panting, like an actual dog. “Then you came along, you interested me. But I have to ask, do you wish to discard me like the rest? After listening to my story?”

 

I thought for a moment. Long and hard. Everything I listened to was for this moment. His upbringing, the way he was discarded. Everything screamed like Sol. His beginning was just being used and abused, too. And before I could say anything, my train of thought was interrupted. “ALEX, WATCH OUT!”

 

Something had crept up behind me, and I was too late to react. I felt what seemed like the weight of a truck hit the side of my face completely, sending me towards the other side of the room in a quick instant. I braced myself, but barely as my whole body caved in the wall.

 

“ALEX!” The hellhound ran towards me. I tried to get back up, but I struggled. The blow had gotten me good, as my vision blurred right in front of me. “It’s undead-dragon knights. 5 of them.” He stood in front of me, and I still tried my best to get back up. I let my guard down, and this is what I get for that.

 

“Can you get up?” The hellhound’s barks were ominous, a threat to the undead for what’s to come. His mana fills the air.

 

I tried desperately to get back up, but each time I just fell face-first onto the dusty floor. My vision kept coming and going as I blinked. “Where… where the hell did these bastards come from…?” I panted, feeling the blood stream come down from my forehead.

 

“Undead-dragon Knights, they can hide their mana, and well too.” The hellhound faced itself in front of me, making sure they didn’t get close enough. “It’s why we didn’t sense them until now. Waiting for the perfect chance to ambush us.”

 

He looked back at me, and he saw my struggle to get back up. “Alex, these are dangerous undead; they don’t simply come back into the living like this. Someone higher is controlling them. My guess is an Arch-Lich. The only one strong enough to command strong-willed undead like this.”

 

I was fading in and out of consciousness. “O-Okay… I hear… you.” No. Get up. Get up now.

 

“No good,” the hellhound started to growl. “I’ll protect you with my life.”

 

Get up, please. For God’s sake, get up. I could barely manage to keep my head up. And then I saw it, the hellhound charged at them with a glowing dark aura.

 

He was quick and nimble on his feet; the first undead didn’t see him coming, taking out one in quick succession.

 

They realized this, changing formation to deal with him. I was useless. Just like back then.

 

He was still running around them. With more precision. It began to chant a spell, enveloping itself with a darker aura. “Shadow Step.” He vanished into thin air.

 

He was attacking while under the cover of darkness. The undead couldn’t see him. Another one completely bites the dust as he charges at another one. “Soul Rend.” He yelled out.

 

That was his current strategy, coming at them one by one. And I still felt helpless to help.

 

He charged once more, but the undead must’ve anticipated this, as the hellhound lunged at him, but the skeleton held him down with a grapple. His other two undead attacked while he was holding him. Critical hit as both swords struck it from both sides. I can hear it, the high-pitched yelp as it cried. One I was afraid to hear.

 

They threw him right in front of me. He was bleeding out, even with the swords stuck in him. I crawled to him, and I dragged my body on the pavement. That image from earlier, the one that haunted me, from back then, to now. Not again, I couldn’t let it happen again.

 

I was here, next to him. My arms moved on their own, holding him. “I’m sorry.”